It would have to be his first Grand Prix victory in formula 1, but a broken Ferrari engine makes Charles Leclerc a dash through the bill. The competition is full of praise and Worry about.
“I know that it is at the Moment totally Sucks, but you have a great future ahead of you!” With this structure, words, days of the winner Lewis Hamilton tried to comfort the actual winner of the day. Charles Leclerc had looked at the Grand Prix of Bahrain for a long time like the sure winner. From the Pole Position into the race gone, the young Monegasque lost the start duel against his team-mate Sebastian Vettel, but a few laps later, he was so much faster than the German Four times world champion, the Ferrari race direction had no more arguments to keep him at Position two. Leclerc passed and dominated from then on, the race. Be ahead of team-mate was nine seconds, without Vettel would have been able to reduce the size of the gap.
But then came, as actually all for the sensational first career victory Leclerc was prepared, but the shock was reported by Leclerc: “I have problems with my Motor,” he said in round 46 of 57 and shortly thereafter: “What is happening here?”
His pit crew was not able to answer it for him first. You had to like the Pilot watch helplessly as Hamilton-in second caught up to second, and finally, on lap 48, effortlessly passed by. In the Ferrari Box, the faces frozen. Later it turned out: The energy-recovery system was broken, and Leclerc’s cars were missing, therefore, around 160 HP of power.
Vettel loses a wing
Previously, luck was not on the side of the “Red” Sebastian Vettel, at this time, the Second, had Hamilton going to happen and turned. A short time later, the front wing flew him without external influence, to the ears, was radio-spraying under the car and from there on the track. Vettel had to run to the Box, the race.
Of used day for Sebastian Vettel: accident, sheet metal damage and the team mate is clearly faster
So now Leclerc, could have saved the race for Ferrari. And the had already been set with the victory in Qualifying on Saturday, a large exclamation mark. However, instead of the first place in the total loss: Valtteri Bottas and Max Verstappen pre-threatened now came in the last laps of the race getting closer. Bottas had the arms of Leclerc, drew his cars now only in the gear on the course, on lap 54. Also Verstappen appeared already in the rear-view mirror, as with all Ferrari bad luck but once again the goddess of luck intervention.
Renault-failure and a Safety Car
“We were happy in a hapless Situation,” said Leclerc after the race, during the Interviews before the awards ceremony. “Luckily the Safety Car came in!” In fact, it was pure luck, the Leclerc saved the third place and the great misfortune in the case of Renault. Inexplicably dropped, both trucks are also in the 54. Round almost exactly the same time, because the engines of the cars of Nico Hulkenberg and Daniel Ricciardo switched off. Hulkenberg, who had made until then, a strong race and finished Sixth, had to Park his car at an unfavorable position. The Safety Car came out and saved Leclerc. Because, as it remained until the end of the race on the track, there was no possibility for the verse to overtake fall.
Congratulations from the Best in the business: Lewis Hamilton is comforted by Charles Leclerc
Charles Leclerc did not know after the race what he should feel. The disappointment was evident. He even apologized for his mechanics, that no victory was popped, although he couldn’t help it. On the other hand, the young Monegasque was proud of his performance: “The Positive is that we have made up the deficits of Melbourne”, he said and spoke of self-courage. “It is hard to cope with, but I’m sure we’ll come back stronger.”
New Competitor
The competition should prepare this announcement to concern. Mercedes has been seen that with Leclerc. Symptomatic of the thoughts was severe and serious view of Mercedes-motrorsport boss Toto Wolff, who considered the goal and the double victory of his pilots very thoughtful. Sebastian Vettel will have his thoughts. Because regardless of his bad luck with a screwdriver, and a front wing loss, he was not able to keep up with Leclerc step. The title defenders and the lucky winner of the day Lewis Hamilton brought it to the point: “This Boy,” he said, and Leclerc took amicably in the Arm, “will enter in the future are some victories.”